This is a profile of the "classic" destroyer. The crane on the
after mast is for loading torpedoes or cargo.
The TT are not clearly visible here as I'd like, but in general this
is a good profile shot of one of the twins.
This is another strong aspect of the destroyer--its "sailaway" view.
The Y-gun is clearly visible,
as are the smoke cans and the two rear 4" weapons. The masts
and stacks really compress
nicely in bow and stern aspects--but unfortunately the bow shot didn't
come out.
This is the Y-gun elevated for firing position, with a depth charge
(read: barrel with 2x2 round
black plate on top) in position. The rack above (or to the port
of) the Y-gun holds four charges.
This is the nicest of the "blurry" pictures that had me cursing when
I got the film
back from the developers'. Why can't I learn how to take a decent
photograph?!?
However, this still displays the TT fairly nicely, in firing position.
Fortunately, I did
not dismantle the destroyers before buying a digital camera...
It's a destroyer in colour! I've decided to differentiate the two by the funnel-tops; this one is HMS Blue, its counterpart is HMS Scarlet. The photo quality is still not great, but it's better, and my gratification is immediate.
This is a profile of the c.1938 mod of Blue, with the ship envisioned
as a slower anti-ship convoy escort with
cruiser-class weapons. The torpedo tubes and Y-gun are gone;
gone too is one of the exhaust flues, as Blue in
this configuration has a smaller powerplant for its reduced capacities.
The heavy weapons are aft because
the ship is expected to follow the standard raider pattern: Outfight
anything it can't outrun, but while it's running,
to be able to dissuade pursuers. Broadside capability is greatly
improved.
This is the modified Blue in approach. You can see the
escort guns on the back; these are
6.2" single shield-mounts designed to provide the ship with raider
and convoy-escort capacity.
The original forward weapon remains.
Blue in recession--this is an excellent view of the 6.2"
mounts at near-maximum elevation.
Note the 20mm weapons on the fantail that replace the Y-gun, and the
absence of the third
funnel, combined with the second flue into a single exhaust since one
of the engines has been
removed and the deck space is necessary to mount the forward 6.2" mount.
The torpedo
tubes are also gone, though the smoke canisters remain.
It's the Advanced Destroyer! This is a more WWII-ized version
of the earlier destroyer.
I think it came out nicely, even if this was about the only good photo
that came of it. The
lack of depth charges is something I haven't explained yet, though.
Of course, this is yet
another ship without a name.
The blurring sets in! Still, a good sense of the advanced DD's
lines is shown.